Why We Perceive Beauty

Several years ago, I used to fly out to Ashland Oregon for meditation classes. On one of these trips, a small group of us decided to drive up as far as we could on Mount Shasta and do a bit of hiking and then watch the sunset.

It was a bit chilly and the air at that altitude was was a bit thin and absolutely clear. As the sun went down the thin clouds started catching the colors of the setting sun radiating in pure tones of various pastels, greens and fuscias and oranges. The shapes of the some of the clouds were magnificent with one small bank of clouds appearing as marching column of little squares.

As I watched this beautiful display of nature and while being very receptive to the beauty all around me, I asked myself, "how is it that we humans are able to perceive such beauty?" And as I asked the question, within a part of my mind, an image formed of a beautiful crystal radiating pure white light, and then I knew, as I was shown this crystal, that this crystal, radiating such beautiful light was within me and was my core essence. And that not only was this crystal within me, but it is within each of us. Each of us has within us, this beautiful radiant light, and in fact, we are that beautiful radiant light. And it is because we are this beautiful radiant light that we are able to perceive such beauty as what we may experience such as a sunset on Mount Shasta.

And so, at those times that I'm feeling less than, or that I'm hard on myself or need to have more compassion for myself, I sometimes remember my experience on Mount Shasta and remember that, at my core, I am a beautiful radiant crystal of light.

And for my clients, and friends and to those of you who have a hard time seeing your inner beauty or may not even be aware that it exists, please know that this light is there and it is radiant and vibrant and strong it will shine through, maybe only in glimpses at first, but does become stronger and stronger as you walk your path of spiritual growth and you clear those things within you that hide or muddy your light. And that is my hope for you!